Fastening device.



I PATENTED A PR. 16,1907.

J. J. OOONNELL. I FASTENING DEVICE. I APPLICATION-FILED 1111,12, 39061 Milt/770R V OCOIYWELL 1n: ua'mus Pzftlls cm. WASHINGTODL'D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT DTTT TQE.

FASTENENG DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Application filed January 12,1906- Serial No. 295,729-

TO a/ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. OCoNNnLL, of

Lima, Livingston county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastening Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fastening devices designed for use in connection with the side curtains of top-buggies, surreys, and automotiles and the object of my invention is to provide means for holding the edge of the curtain snugly against the upper quarter of the top and preventing it from sagging or wrinkling and forming a gap or opening through which the Wind and rain can enter the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a fastening device that is capable of use wherever it is desired to detachably secure two parts together and prevent their accidental disengagement from one another.

My invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a buggy-top with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the fastening device. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, and Fig. 4 is a top view.

In the drawings, 2 represents a buggy-seat, and 3 the top, having the usual bows 4, provided with buttons 5 for securing the side curtains 6 to the top in the usual way. I have found that these side curtains, particularly after they have been used and have become wrinkled and stretched, have a tend ency to sag or drop away from the buggytop between the points where they are secured thereon, and the openings formed by the sagging of the curtains allow wind and rain to beat into the buggy, to the great discomfort and annoyance of the occupants.

The same is also true with respect to the side curtains of other vehicles, such as surreys and automobiles. To avoid this difficulty and objection to side curtains as usually secured to the top of a buggy or other vehicle, I provide a plate 7 and permanently attach it to the upper quarter of the buggy-top by rivets 8 or any other suitable means. An outwardly-projecting lug 9 is provided on said plate, having a socket 9 and a slot 10 leading thereto. The socket is preferably cup-shaped in form and has a hole 1 1 through the bottom, which gradually extends and merges into the walls of the socket. A second plate 12 is secured to the side curtain in a similar manner as the plate 7 and is provided with a shank 13, which terminates at itsupper end in a ball 14, which is adapted to lit within the socket 9.

The shank 13 has a flat surface 15 on one side and when turned a quarter of a revolu tion from its normal POSltlOIl can be slipped through the slot 10 and disengaged from the socket 9. W hen, however, the shank is in its normal position in the socket, it cannot slip out through the slot, as the two members of the fastening device will be locked together and the curtain fastened to the buggy-top and securelyheld inplace with respect thereto and the edge of the curtain prevented from sagging and leaving an opening through which rain and wind can enter the buggy.

When the side curtain is removed, the shank 13 is given a quarter-turn and then can be easily and quickly disengaged from the socket 9. This device may also be used on dash-cloths or waterproof boots used on carriages and on horse-blankets to take the place of straps and buckles usually used for securing the blanket around the horses neck.

I claim as my invention I A fastening device comprising a plate having an outwardly-projecting lug provided with a socket having its axis parallel with said plate, and said socket tapering from one end toward the other end and said lug having a hole extending through it from said lat ter end of the socket and its wallhaving a longitudinal slot extendmg from end to end thereof, a second plate having a flattened shank that is too wide to pass through said slot when the parts are in their normal positlon, but is adapted to slip through said slot into said socket when the shank is rotated a quarterturn, and said shank terminating in a ball that is adapted to enter the larger end of said socket but is too large to pass entirely therethrough, and said shank having a l mited longitudinal movement in said socket, whereby the disengagement of said ball from the said socket in separating the parts is permitted, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of December, 1905.

JOHN J. OCONNELL. I/Vitnesses:

JOHN 0. DAY, WILLIAM A. ONIELL. 

